This simple salad is a fun way to add patriotic colors to your table! Full of produce that’s in season locally between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, it is particularly perfect for the season.
This salad comes together so quickly that it’s an easy one to add to your holiday table, regardless of what you already have on the menu!
Continue readingI don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t like nachos. Even the pickiest kids are usually totally cool with chips covered in cheese. Thus, nachos may just be the perfect dish to bring to a party – and a cookout is no different because they also can be made on the grill.
I love making a big, loaded up tray for our family for dinner, but a nacho bar would be such a fun idea for a cookout! You could set up all the ingredients separately and use loaf pans for individual servings. Write names on the foil covering to keep track of everyone’s custom orders!
Continue readingWelcome to #BBQWeek!
We’ve been cooking out for weeks already – as soon as it got warm enough to sit out, we fired up the grill and set up the deck – and I’ve been loving it. For me, the warm weather is always synonymous with fresh ingredients so I knew I had to start this week with something fresh and bright.
This salad is perfect for summer. It’s quick and make-ahead friendly. The produce is readily available all summer and the dressing is simple pantry staples.
It’s a great dish to bring to a cookout for lunch or dinner – but it’s also a great option for brunch!
Continue readingThis big, beautiful salad is the perfect for autumn – the colors remind me of the trees right now and the warm beets are perfect for a chilly day!
A nice salad is always my favorite addition to a holiday table. It’s an awesome way to showcase seasonal flavors and often elements can be made ahead, making it one of the easiest dishes to get on the table at meal time!
For this salad, the beets can be roasted and chopped ahead of time, making the prep at meal time minimal!
Continue readingWe attempted to grow our own carrots this year to mixed results – the tops made an incredible pesto but we only harvested enough carrots for one meal!
I decided to cook them up with some thyme from the garden and local honey and the result was incredible! The mix of savory and sweet was just perfect.
Continue readingHave you made your Thanksgiving plans yet? We’ll be a party of four this year – which food-wise can be a little tricky. I’m excited for the challenge of sizing down and aiming to not spend all day in the kitchen – and this side nails both.
This spinach dish is sized for 4 and takes only 15 minutes, making it a great option to add to your holiday menu – or as a side for any busy night!
Continue readingWe have hit the point of the winter when veggies are no longer exciting.
During the summer and fall, we have a CSA share that loads us up with fresh vegetables weekly and inspires me to cook them creatively. Once the CSA ends? It becomes a regular rotation of bagged salad, roasted broccoli, and roasted green beans.
I recently discovered the kids like cauliflower rice, so I’ve been playing with different ways to dress it up. This Greek-style version was a huge hit. So huge that we ended up fighting over the leftovers!
Continue readingWhat’s your favorite Thanksgiving side? For me, it’s green bean casserole. I only make it for Thanksgiving each year and it’s something I always look forward to. And for that reason, it’s also the side dish I’ve been most hesitant to switch up.
This cheesy version may be a contender for new favorite.
We got a lot of sweet potatoes during our last weeks of this year’s CSA. And a lot of apples. They’re such a perfect pairing and one that I’ve been playing with a lot this fall – this dish is one of my favorites.
Sweet potato and apple chunks doused in a syrupy honey-whisky-pecan glaze will be your new favorite Thanksgiving side dish.
One of my favorite parts of #Choctoberfest is finding ways to eat chocolate for dinner. Yes, the cakes and cookies are awesome – but there’s something just delightful about getting in your chocolate before dessert.
This year, I’ve cooked up the perfect side dish for your Tex-Mex night. These black beans are punched up with spices – and a nice dose of dark chocolate to make them creamy and rich.